America's most famous real-life haunted places — 10 frightening locations

Every October, crowds pack pumpkin patches and costume aisles to seek out a good low-stakes fright for the seasonal theme. However, for many places around the country it is not all fun and games. 

People often seek out safe scares at haunted houses. But for a number of places, the stories aren’t staged. These places are tied to decades of reports that have made these sites some of America’s most haunted houses.

St. Augustine Lighthouse

Best coastal ghost story. The state of Florida has a long history of some of America’s creepiest ghost sightings, dating back to even before there was an America. The historic lighthouse and keeper's house are associated with sightings, unexplained noises and tales involving people who died near the site. 

The spirits of past lighthouse keepers and two sisters who died on the property are said to still roam the facility. Staff members who left the grounds locked at night, would come back to find doors mysteriously unlocked.  

RMS Queen Mary

Most unusual location. The retired ocean liner, now permanently docked in Long Beach, California, the RMS Queen Mary, is associated with reports of ghostly passengers, unexplained sounds and sightings in its corridors and engine rooms.

The ship took its maiden voyage in 1936 and was briefly used as a troopship in WWII, being known at the time as "The Grey Ghost." During its heyday it saw several unfortunate incidents that could leave a haunt, from a young sailor crushed by an engine room door, crew member murdered and a number of children who have drowned in the ship’s pools. Coincidentally, the ship ran its last voyage, finally docking for good on Halloween in 1967. 

LaLaurie House 

Darkest historical background. Some stories are linked to some of the darkest moments in our country’s history. Locals in New Orleans are well aware of the history of the LaLaurie Mansion in the French Quarter. 

The mansion is associated with the story of Delphine LaLaurie, who held and tortured enslaved people before a fire in the 1830s exposed the abuse. To this day, some visitors and passersby still associate mysterious shouts and moans coming from inside. Later ghost stories have added to its notoriety, although some sensational accounts are historically disputed.

The Stanley Hotel

Best Hollywood connection. One hotel in Colorado served as inspiration for horror novelist Stephen King and a movie based on its lore. The Stanley Hotel’s reputation and atmosphere inspired The Shining, giving it enormous recognition beyond paranormal enthusiasts.

The Estes Park, Colorado hotel still accepts accommodations for anyone who wants to stay a night, a weekend, or for some spirits, forever. 

The White House

Best surprise entry. While not usually thought of as a haunted house, our nation’s most famous home is still one of our nation's oldest homes. Built over 200 years ago, the amount of stories those walls have seen can be endless. However, ghost stories involving Abraham Lincoln and other former residents have circulated for generations. The White House Historical Association itself documents these accounts, including claims by prominent visitors.

Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum

Best institutional haunting story. Many sad and unfortunate stories can develop from our nation’s institutional facilities. The enormous former psychiatric hospital, the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, has a troubling history and is known for its ghost tours and paranormal investigations.

A home for dozens of mentally ill patients from the mid-1800s all the way until 1994, the place saw many lobotomies, electroshock therapy treatments and other controversial procedures. Several people, unfortunately, would not survive the conditions caused by the facility. 

Amityville Horror House 

Best-known paranormal controversy. One haunted house that needs little introduction is the horrific real-life events that took place in a home in Amityville, New York. The real 1974 DeFeo family murders preceded disputed haunting claims that inspired books and movies. After the DeFeo family, the next owner only lasted less than a month. Later owners have reported no paranormal activity.

Eastern State Penitentiary

Best eerie atmosphere. The former Philadelphia's prison's crumbling cellblocks and history of solitary confinement provide a particularly haunting setting. Butilt in 1929, the prison was one of the most expensive and well-known prisons in the world. 

The former home to some of the nation's most infamous criminals, like mobster Al Capone and bank robber "Slick Willie" William Sutton, had prisoners kept in complete solitude at all times. Even during its heyday, mysteries surrounded who walked along the floors as guards would cover the heads of inmates so no one could see them. 

Now the prison is a tourist attraction, offering ghost tours like many others on the list. But paranormal activity such as shadowy figures, footsteps and laughter have all been reported from abound the cells. 

Lizzie Borden House

Best true-crime connection. True-crime stories have taken our culture by storm over the past few years. One of the most infamous true-crime stories is one of the oldest. Lizzie Borden was tried for the death of her parents in 1892. The site of the infamous axe murders is now associated with ghost stories and overnight paranormal experiences.

A jury found Lizzie not guilty. So now people believe that her parents, Lizzie and perhaps the real killer, still walk those halls of the home. 

Winchester Mystery House

Best overall combination of mystery and architecture. A sprawling mansion filled with unusual stairways, doors and rooms, tied to legends about Sarah Winchester and restless spirits. After tragically losing her family, the widow of the famed gun manufacturer consulted with a spiritualist after she felt she was being haunted by ghosts, possible victims of every person killed by her husband’s rifle. Ghost that followed her after she built the 160-room Victorian mansion to get away from them. 

Spoiler alert … it didn’t work. Now the massive 24,000-square-foot property is a maze of 2,000 doors and 10,000 windows, and who knows, perhaps its share of spirits that call the place home as well. 

Big picture view:

Whether these locations are truly haunted or simply home to generations of ghost stories remains a matter of belief.

But one thing is certain: Long after Halloween decorations come down, and the costumes are put away, the mysteries surrounding these historic places remain.

After all, some of the best ghost stories and haunted houses don't need a script, special effects or someone hiding around the corner.

 

 

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